Post by skyeknight on Jan 11, 2017 22:24:24 GMT
Fury. Blinding. Boiling, toxic fury cut through Omar and straight to the core. He could barely see straight. He might as well as be standing outside of a church when the bells were tolling. Vanitas had stirred something wild and feral in the troll that he hadn’t experienced in quite some time. With shaking fingers, he punched in a number he thought he would never – ever use in his long life. Black Jack Davie. Omar didn’t want to contact him, but Black Jack was the guy to go to for situations like this. Though, when dialing, Omar had to be careful how hard he pressed on the touch screen. He could very well send his thumb through the machine if he pressed as hard as his anger drove him to.
The line rang once.
Then twice.
A third time.
"At the tone, please record your message. If you have finished recording, press one for more options. To leave a call back number, press five."
Omar almost chucked his phone at the wall. He moved to do it but barely restrained himself. His hands were shaking but he was certain that if he even squeezed the phone, even just a little, he would shatter it. He couldn’t do that. What if that brat Vanitas called back? What if the girls got away and needed him? The fact that Davie wasn’t answering only fed fuel to the fire that was his rage because really? Really? The one time he needed him…
He took deep ragged breaths. He had to calm down. He had to think. He was dizzyingly livid as it was. Vanitas. Davie. The situation. Namine’s fear. Jane’s confidence she would save them. It was almost too much at once for him to even manage. He wanted to punch someone, namely a yellow eyed demon. Punch him until he wasn’t alive anyways. Black Jack wasn’t answering. Who else could he go to? A pang of disgust struck him when he realized who he was going to have to talk to.
The BPD.
The people who had failed to find the murder of his wife and son, had taken his daughter into foster care and had arrested him countless times. Who was to say they would even believe him? He had stirred up enough trouble for them as it was. The humans would just say he was an Other crying wolf. Would the Others Unit believe him? The anger raged inside of him. How could he go to that useless bunch of officers? His girl’s lives were at stake. But… he had to get the documents and evidence somehow. He could very well just go in under the pretense of looking for help, take whatever the officers had, then lure Vanitas out and kill him.
Omar walked up to the police station, every inch of him seemed to radiate the anger that he felt. It was almost a tangible feeling as everyone who he had crossed paths with on his way there ran the other direction or backed away slowly, fearfully, as if trying to avoid the wrath of a dangerous animal. Vanitas had Namine and Jane simple as that. His two previous girls were alone with that deplorable stupid creature. He tried to get what Vanitas asked for but it wasn't like he could break into police headquarters, steal the documents and secure a route for the demon out of the country. He had to involve the police even if it was just him, using them to get the documents and make a plan on the way. They were the only ones in the whole damn city who had the power to negotiate with the madman. But they had what Vanitas wanted.
He wasn't going to any cop. He wouldn't trust just anyone with the lives of the people he held so dear. No. He was going to the Others Unit. More specifically his friend and occasional drinking partner - Shadow. It must have alarmed a few officers to see Omar LaRue of all people walking into the BPD of his own violation. People have him a wide birth. One cadet scrambled out of his way like a demon themselves had walked into the department. Good. It made it easier to find the inhuman officer. The officer was at his desk, talking with his partner, but Shadow gave pause when he caught sight of Omar, storming in like a man on a mission.
"Omar?"
"He's got them! That deplorable little asswipe has my girls," he gritted out, through clenched teeth.
That went a little less gracefully than he would have liked. The boiling anger was starting to be consumed by the fear of failing. Failing his girls. It was still there but it was quelling, knotting, twisting in his stomach, leaving a sour taste in his mouth. His stomach twisted worse than if he had swallowed live snakes. He could just hear Jane's fierce determination that he would swoop in to save her like all the fathers in stories. The wobble of fear was also a firm reminder of what would happen should he fail. Namine had already been brutalized once. He couldn't let it happen again.
He would kill Vanitas. He wanted to. He wanted to so badly he could taste it. He hadn’t wanted to do something like that in a very long time. Rip the little weasel’s head clean off. He would tear out Vanitas’ spine and beat him with it. He would tear the good for nothing little monster limb from limb. Not even his only family would be able to recognize that creature once Omar was done with him. That was the baffling part – that someone spawned out that miserable monster.
"Slow down!" Shadow insisted. "What's going on?"
The troll looked up at Shadow. By now a few officers had risen to their feet. Sunshine looked concerned. Then there was that fae officer who arrested him. She looked almost fearful. Was it of him? Good for her. They should be scared of him if they screwed this one up. He was actually quite impressed with himself that he managed to walk this far into the office without decking someone or shoving them out of the way. He was a father on a mission after all.
"Vanitas has Namine and Jane."
"I knew something was wrong!" Aqua cried from behind him. "Namine never came home. It wasn't like her and she wasn't answering her phone!"
The blue faery had scoured the streets looking for Namine. Over the last two days. It had worried her to the core when Namine never fake home to their shared apartment. The girl never went out or had a social life of her own so if she ever did, Aqua half expected a note saying where the girl went to be on the kitchen table. She only found a ruined sketchpad dumped in a puddle and all sketches ruined beyond recognition. She and Riku had just opened their own investigation. But it wasn't easy. The blonde had no enemies. Literally no one could hate the girl, but Vanitas was different. Vanitas hated everyone.
"Then where the fuck were you when she needed you?" Omar demanded of the fae.
The Seelie – to her credit – didn’t react as he tried to goad her into a fight. It wasn’t the fight he wanted, but at this point, he was itching to take a swing at anyone who tried to say ‘they tried to help but couldn’t’ or they ‘wanted to’ but had more important things to do. If Namine was so important to the faery, why did the woman let her go out alone? He clenched his hands into fists. He got too many excuses after the death of his wife and son to even be okay with. He couldn’t lose his Jane again and Namine was just an innocent caught in the crosshairs.
"Omar," Sunshine started, using a gentle voice. "I know this isn't easy but what exactly did Vanitas demand?"
Omar took a deep breath. His anger wasn't helping. He wanted to throttle the demon until there was no life in his eyes and even his own corpse wouldn't be recognizable. That would earn him a one way ticket to jail and possibly the deaths of his girls. The worst part was he was probably doing the community a service by removing that creature from existence. No one benefitted from having Vanitas still breathing. His hands clenched into fists. It was only years of experience that kept old Unseelie Magic at bay. Omar would consider them gifts if they helped him just this once.
"He wants every document and piece of evidence you have on him." Omar seethed. "And transportation out of the country."
The officers exchanged looks. They didn't have anyone trained in negotiations. Especially under the circumstances they found themselves in. The demands were steep too. Documents? Easy to fake and he could never prove if they made copies or not. But evidence. Evidence was... special. By now he probably realized a certain article was missing. Terra's badge. Shadow looked over to the faery. She seemed to be on the same page. She moved behind her desk and pulled the bag that contained the still bloody badge. She had a hard time even looking at it so she laid it on the desk.
"We need a plan." Riku said. "Where's his hideout?"
Vanitas had all but moved overnight when he found his old hideout tampered with. The officers had nothing to go on. But they were determined to do something. The officers branched off. Sunshine moved to her desk and started printing duplicates of the documents and reports they had on the yellow eyed menace. Aqua rounded up boxes that the used to transport the documents in, playing for authenticity. As Sunshine printed, she stacked, labeled and placed them in the boxes. Riku went to see Anna. They were going to try to forge or at least make it look like they were handing over evidence.
One box of evidence became two and two became three. But the police were taking their sweet time doing it. Omar wasn’t sure he could carry all three by himself but once one box was finished, he pushed the faery out of the way. She looked up at him in utter confusion. He seized the box and made to turn for the exit. Shadow stood in his way. Had it been anyone else, Omar may have just have taken a swing at them. He almost did. To be honest, it was reflex to just punch someone if they tried to stop him from doing something. Or if they pissed him off. Vanitas had done both.
"Get out of my fucking way, Griffiths," Omar uttered.
Shadow didn’t back down. Omar’s fight or flight response kicked in. 99% of the time it was fight. This was one of those times. He told Vanitas he would trade stupid paper for the lives of Namine and Jane so he was going to do just that. Vanitas didn’t have to know there were two other boxes. Hell, all he needed was to get five minutes alone with the guy. Then he would show him a thing or two about messing with a troll’s family. Or messing with troll’s in general.
"You came to us for help." Shadow sneered. "You're going to let us help you."
"Like Hell I-"
"I could arrest you right now." Shadow retorted.
Shadow had a point but it didn't make it any easier to swallow. Those were his girls! Who knew what that demon freak was doing to them? Omar was just sitting there! Doing nothing to help them! They were counting on him. They needed him but he wasn’t being productive at all. Frustration and anger were driving his actions. The officers were taking too long. They should have already have had files ready. That weasel had his girls. Who knows what could have been happening to them? Or worse, if they were already dead. Vanitas would never know rest if he did. Omar would hunt him until the end of his days if something befell those young women.
"You’re taking too long. He could have already..." Omar started but he couldn’t finish that thought. "I’m going to kill him."
"If I could interrupt." Pitch said, finally slinking over to the busy officers. "It seems that Detective Lacour has been following Vanitas for some time. We know where to find him."
The dark officer had overheard everything. Rather than make a spectacle of what he thought or interject with questions, he reached out to the detective who had tried to arrest Vanitas. Luck was on their side because the detective had submitted his report just a few days prior. The demon motioned over to a giant that lumbered over to them. Ralph Lacour. He gave a stern nod over the announcement. The giant willingly came in to assist. More than happy to get back at the target who had fled.
Vanitas snorted after he looked out the window. Cop cars and a perimeter around his building to keep anyone from coming in. Or out. He almost would have been flattered since they brought out the entire force just for him. All he did was kill a few people and help a radical group attempt to bring the city to its knees. But really, he knew the only reason the police had put out warrants because he attacked police officers.
Not because they had proof of the murders being his fault or proof that he actually assisted Grey Dawn. Aside from someone’s word that he did or a ‘hunch’ they had no evidence linking him except for the fact that he had some Sapien in his home, which they obtained with an illegal search. Yes. They could only pin the assaults on him for now. Hardly a life sentence.
And kidnappings.
His hostages were in separate rooms to keep from comforting one another. Namine had tried to cling to Jane, sobbing and crying. At least until Vanitas gagged her. Then she was hyperventilating when he left the room. Maybe she passed out. He didn’t know. He didn’t bother to check. Jane had sworn and spat at him when he dragged Namine away, telling him that if a he laid a hand on the terrified girl that she would kill him herself. She certainly took after her father that way.
Jane had been tied to one of the support beams that ran from floor to ceiling. She had tried biting, kicking and swinging at him until he tied her down. She nearly broke skin on his knuckles. She bit him when he gagged her. The brat was just like her father. The thought made him want to kill her. Everything would have been just fine if he never had the skirmish with Omar in the first place. The police would have never had a reason to look at him.
He looked at the phone he had taken from Jane. It was likely to ring. The police would call. They would pretend to give into his requests to get the girls back safe. They would offer him whatever he wanted while at the same time, getting a unit into position so they could take him out. He would probably end up making a portal to get out of there. Running away from these situations, was what he was good at. That and making a small mess into something far worse than it was to begin with. But all he would really need was a portal and he could take his ‘hostages’ wherever he wanted. The police had to know that too.
The cell rang. Vanitas looked down at the number. Restricted. Probably the police. Calling for the release of the girls. It would be interesting to see if they gave into his demands or if he was going to have to take desperate measures. Then again it could be the whole ‘come out with your hands up. We have the place surrounded’ schtick. He wouldn’t put it past them. The humoculous would offer that. The faery would be more appeasing. ‘We’re doing our best to get everything you demand, but we need more time. May we talk to the girls?’ She would be polite, sickeningly sweet, trying to relate to him even though he killed her partner.
"You better be calling to tell me you have the documents and my ticket out of here." He snarled.
"You know just as well as I do, that’s not going to happen."
Pitch Black. Vanitas almost chucked the phone at the wall. Of all the rotten luck, it had to be the only demon on the force. It made Vanitas want to scream, or punch something. He had two perfectly good candidates for the job. The little blonde was too easy to push around. He barely put any strength behind his slap to her face, but she had been a quivering, trembling mess ever since. Jane would be more fun. More of a challenge.
"Come in here and they both die."
Vanitas could do it too. Both girls were at his mercy. He had subdued them easily enough. Killing them would be of no challenge. Only the repercussions of killing them would be. By the time the police even breached the door; Vanitas could have killed them both and used a portal to get out of there. He could find his own way out of the city if he absolutely had to. His pride was the only thing that made him do this. He wanted to put the police in a situation where they had to admit that he won, that he got the best of them. With that, he hung up. They knew what he wanted.
"That went as well as to be expected." Aqua commented dryly.
The whole department heard it. The call was on speaker. Omar, who had insisted on coming, despite how he was far too emotionally invested in this was beside himself. They had reached out. It was now a waiting game for either someone to do something drastic. The faery took a deep breath. She went to the back of her car. She popped the trunk and pulled out her rifle. If she could get a shot in, perhaps this would be easier. She reached for the emerald bullets. This wasn’t the time to be playing with the rubber stock.
"I’m going to get a vantage point."
She let her glamour drop. If she could just get a look at Vanitas through the window, get one solid shot in. One powerful flap of her wings sent her up, into the air. She went up high, trying to find a solid rooftop to watch the windows from. The earpiece she wore would let Pitch or Shadow tell her if she needed to take a shot. Two lives depended on her to make a clean shot. She found a good spot atop a building. She set up her rifle and laid down, letting her glamour appear once again. She could feel iron from a fire escape but had no choice. This was the cleanest spot for her to make a shot.
While Aqua disappeared to get her vantage point the other officers were either maintaining the crowd that had rolled in, or trying to hold back the media. Reporters and TV news crews were like harpies. They were all set up, trying to watch and report. Pitch moved over to the sidelines to keep some of the more enthusiastic reporters at bay. The police line was crowded by cameras, curious onlookers and police officers. The scene was chaos to say the least. Pitch almost preferred their silent ‘sting’ operations. In and out. No fuss, no muss, no drama. Not like this.
"Pitch? Pitch, what’s going on?"
The dark officer looked over to see Moses standing in the crowd, right by the edge of the barricade. However, just because the two were acquaintances, Pitch gave little to no reaction. Right now he had a hostage situation to deal with, not the demon Halfling. There were more pressing matters to attend to than answering questions. If he answered Moses’ question and the young man went to the media, then things would only escalate from there. It was protocol. No hard feelings.
"Stay behind the barricade." Pitch said.
A flicker of hurt flashed over Moses’ face. This was Vanitas’ place. He had just been passing by. It was on his way home from work. But Vanitas’ hideout was surrounded by cops. A fury boiled up inside of him. Things had been going so good. Vanitas had been behaving himself! Then the idiot had to go and do something like this! Whatever this was? He wanted to throttle the yellow eyed moron but that would have to wait. He had to save the guy’s life first.
"It’s about Vanitas, isn’t it?" Moses asked, trying to contain his hurt.
"It is."
"I can talk to him. Please, Pitch."
Moses felt a little more than uncomfortable under Pitch’s scrutizing gaze. Like the demon knew that Moses was going behind Pitch’s back and seeing Vanitas. He felt like the scum of the earth for it already. Pitch had placed so much trust in him, offered him so much help and yet Vanitas really made him believe he was turning over a new leaf. He wanted to believe that so badly it hurt. Frustration. Anger. Annoyance. Disappointment. Hurt. All of it swirled around in Moses’ chest like a hurricane, choking him up. He knew Vanitas was brash and prone to idiotic tendencies but this… Vanitas had really messed something up to have the whole force come down on him like that.
"Do you think everyone can be a good person if they just try, boy scout?"
Determination lit up Moses’ face. He had to do something. Anything at this point would be better than just standing there like an idiot. If Vanitas wasn’t going to save himself, Moses was going to have to do it for him. He wanted to believe that Vanitas was hopeful for a yes when he asked the question. That Vanitas wanted to be good. He would just have to prove to Vanitas by acting as an example. Only irony was that a Half demon was going to try to be the role model for a full demon.
"Very well."
The police tap was lifted for Moses to walk through. Shadows swirled around the duo, making anyone else unable to see them, namely Pitch was doing it so the reporter wouldn’t have anything to blow out of proportions. He could see the Others Unit getting geared up to bust in, swat style. They were armed with guns that contained emerald bullets. He didn’t even have to be near the weapons to know. His skin was already starting to crawl. They were going to kill him. He wanted to protest but he felt as if his mouth had gone dry. Moses was led by Pitch to a tent that was acting as the police standby point. Computers, spells and runes lined a table.
"Vanitas has taken two hostages into his building," Pitch explained.
Moses felt his heart clench. That stupid, reckless son of a bitch. It was no wonder the full force was coming down on him as hard as they were. Vanitas could kill those people. He would do it too. He had been so ready to kill those thugs in the alley just because they had tried hurting him… Just a look over his shoulder could tell him that tensions ran high. No one was laughing. No one was smiling. This was bad and very serious. Normally only an officer or two at most was sent to a scene at once.
"He wants the police to turn over the evidence we have against him and a plane out of the country." Pitch continued.
Moses scrubbed a hand over his face. Vanitas was going to leave? Just like that? Without a word to him? Without a second thought? If that wasn’t a blow to his self-confidence he didn’t know what was. He was starting to doubt his ability to sway the demon. He apparently didn’t mean that much if Vanitas was just going to ditch him like that. However, he told Pitch he could talk Vanitas down, now there were two lives on the line. No pressure, right? He let out a shaky breath.
He glanced up at Pitch. The demon motioned to the single chair and phone. Numbly, Moses sat down. He was doing this. He was really doing this. He picked up the phone. It felt heavier than he expected. Was it because the adrenaline was kicking in? Pitch nodded once in confirmation before He dialed up the only number in it – Vanitas’. He sat still, silent and waiting for Vanitas to answer. He was going to kill that demon. What sort of trouble could he have gotten himself into if he had the whole BPD Others Unit camped outside of his place?
"Yes?"
"Vanitas, it’s Moses." he said softly.
Vanitas went stiff. Was this another ploy by the police? To save these insignificant women? To turn himself over? The police didn’t want him alive. They much rather he had an emerald bullet through the head. He could see them gearing up to take him out. Shoot to kill. They didn’t care about the hostages either. A boiling lava like anger swelled up inside of him. How dare they? They were using Moses to try to manipulate him into being their pawn. His hands clenched tightly in anger.
"I don’t have time for this. What do you want?"
Vanitas’ casual response only flared up Moses’ temper even more. How could he treat this so casually? There were police, reporters; people were going to get hurt if things kept up like this. That stupid demon was likely to walk himself straight into a death trap with an emerald bullet in between his head. It was just disappointing. It was like two steps forward and an enormous leap back over a canyon and into Hell.
"I want to talk to you."
"Then talk."
Moses took a deep breath. He smoothed a hand over his forehead. Why? Why couldn’t Vanitas just do the right thing? For once in his life? He really though that Vanitas had changed. It was like dealing with an ill-behaved dog, one that he hadn’t properly trained yet and had taken a bite of the wrong person. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He glanced around again. Pitch was watching him like a hawk but the other officers were too busy with other members of the crowd to give a second glance to him.
He had to do something. If Vanitas wasn’t going to save himself then Moses had to do it for him. Vanitas thought that his only way out was through threats and fighting. That would only earn him an early grave. Moses was fond enough of the guy not to want him dead, not when he had made such efforts and potential to be good, even if the demon himself thought he was a lost cause. Moses wracked his mind for something to say, anything to say that would convince Vanitas otherwise.
"Vanitas," Moses whispered. "There are police officers here."
"Really? I wasn’t aware." Vanitas spat with sarcasm dripping.
"You can stop all of this."
He wanted to beg Vanitas to talk to him, but Vanitas really needed to come to him. He couldn’t wrap his mind around it. Why did Vantias think this was a good viable option? That he had been left with no other option but to take someone else’s life in his hands and threaten to end it? He wished Vanitas would have come to him first, talked to him before he did anything drastic. Now his choice was death or jail. Moses would rather him alive and in jail than dead with an emerald bullet.
"Your little cop buddies will kill me," Vanitas sneered.
"They won’t." Moses protested. "They won’t if you let those hostages go."
The line fell silent for a moment. Moses was almost afraid that Vanitas had hung up. He even pulled the phone away from his ear to check. The timer of the call was still ticking, so the yellow eyed demon was still there. Vanitas stood by the window, trying to spot Moses in the crowd, with only a single blind lifted. He was being careful now that he knew that the police were there. He honestly hadn’t expected this big of an ordeal. But he couldn’t see Moses in the crowd. It was starting to get quite crowed outside his hideout. He didn’t really care for it that.
"If you want them, you come get them."
Moses wasn’t stupid. That was an invitation. Vanitas was inviting him to come and take the hostages back, if he could. He glanced up at Pitch. The officer probably heard everything. Convincing the demon officer to let him go inside to try was another thing coming. He could be handing himself over to be another hostage. Vanitas wouldn’t do that to him, he just knew it. He couldn’t ask what the demon meant because the line went dead. Moses’ answer would be easy enough to interpret if he went in or not.
"You kept him on the line longer than I expected." Pitch mused.
"He wants me in there."
Pitch regarded him carefully. It seemed as if he were weighing the pros and cons of the situation. They hadn’t found a way into the building that wouldn’t tip the demon off. The demon would then portal away, potentially with hostages and they would start the game of cat and mouse all over again. They also couldn’t take a shot from the adjacent buildings because apparently, Vanitas had figured out they had snipers in place. Then again, the hostages could have already been dead. Moses could have been the target all along. He was being invited inside.
"For all we know, the hostages are already dead." Pitch said. "Sending you in alone would only give him a new hostage."
"I’m going in there."
For a moment, they were both silent. Then Pitch sighed. This was the only break they had. Moses hadn’t exactly done the most impressive job talking down the yellow eyed menace, but he had gotten himself an in. More than any of the officers had going for them. But they couldn’t exactly send Moses in armed. Emerald would only hurt him anyways. And a flak jacket would only show Vanitas Moses didn’t trust him. He would just be going by himself. It was a ridiculous and fool hearted plan but so was Vanitas’.
"Did he say how to get inside?" Pitch asked.
"Didn’t have to."
The side door he and Vanitas used when he found the demon dusty-eyed and blind. Moses got to his feet. He had an overwhelming need to see the demon again, even if he might hit the guy when he first saw him. First, he just needed to see that Vanitas was okay. He walked back to the crowd, with Pitch right behind him. The shadows kept them hidden until they were both away from the crowd. Moses led him to the side door that he and Vanitas used the last time he was there.
The key was right where Vanitas said it would be – above the door jam. He really was just a bachelor. Moses almost laughed. He would have in any other situation. Just as he tried the handle, he paused and looked up at Pitch. The demon, though his friend, was a police officer. He was leading a police officer into Vanitas’ home – his sanctuary. He couldn’t do that to the other demon. That thought alone sobered him up quickly. Any humor he might have had about going back to Vanitas’ was gone.
"Could you… let me talk to him first?" Moses requested.
"I already have."
"Give me five minutes to get him to let the hostages go. Five minutes. That’s all I ask."
Pitch stepped back. Moses paused before hurrying into the building. His first thought was that Vanitas had cleaned the place up. It actually looked decent. Granted he didn’t have furniture so he fashioned what he didn’t have out of boxes or crates. But it really looked like he was trying to make the living space seem like a home. Moses didn’t have long to linger. He was pretty sure Pitch was literally only going to give him five minutes and was silently counting down in his head when he could bust down the door and get Vanitas.
"Vanitas…" Moses called out. "Show yourself!"
"You here to turn me in?" Vanitas’ voice echoed from the shadows around him. "I saw you with Pitch Black!"
Vanitas sounded betrayed, like Moses had hurt him, broken his trust. The Half demon certainly hoped not. He was counting on Vanitas’ ‘fondness’ of him to pull this off. To save both of their skins before the police broke in, guns blazing, not caring who or what got caught in the crossfire. They already thought the other hostages were dead. They probably just assumed since he was a demon, that he would kill them within the first few hours of taking them. But for Vanitas to be this upset, he had probably been waiting by the door, saw Pitch and backed off.
Moses ran up a flight of stairs, trying to find exactly where the yellow eyed idiot was. The higher up he went, the more disrepair the building showed, but it wasn’t like he expected Vanitas to occupy each floor or something. The place was filthy. The city had let it go. They had let many buildings go, which was why when it came to ‘real estate’ Vanitas could pick whatever he wanted as long as it was in the slummy part of town. Heck, he almost expected a rat to run out over his foot or something.
"I want you to turn yourself in." Moses said. "Vanitas, just let those people go."
He rounded the corner. Vanitas was standing by one of the hostages – a furious brunette who looked like if she got free of the bonds, she would lash out and attack the demon. There was a little blonde girl across the room. However, no one in the room looked like they had slept, eaten or had anything to drink in at least a day or two. The girls must have been too afraid to take anything he offered (if he offered anything). Vanitas must have been too afraid of the girls and the police.
"We can fix this."
"News flash, boy scout, this is me. This is as good as you’re ever going to get." Vanitas hissed.
Vanitas knew just what to say to try to hurt Moses. He was furious. He wasn’t even sure what he was saying at this point. He just knew he wanted to hurt Moses, the same way he suddenly felt hurt. All of the emotional ticks and jabs. But he was being honest. Still one of those disgusting human habits he had picked up from Moses. This was Vanitas being at his finest. He was clashing with the law, fighting and being as demonic as demons could be. He could kill both of his hostages and not bat an eye over it. Moses had to realize this. Right? Vanitas could kill them. A small niggling feeling was asking him that if he could kill the girls, why hadn’t he done it yet?
Vanitas was seething. Namine, the little blonde he had grabbed, was shaking, trembling and she had already gotten teary eyed. Jane on the other hand glared and struggled against her restraints every time he came close. What did Moses expect him to do? Just let the girls go? He was in this way too far. Vanitas’ response was just a gentle smile from Moses. He boldly walked towards the demon, absolutely fearlessly. Vanitas tried to take a step back but Moses was faster. Was he faster or did Vanitas just let him catch him? Arms wrapped tightly around Vanitas, Moses hugged him.
"Let it end," he whispered.
Vanitas made a soft distressed noise. Moses didn’t relent in his hug. Vanitas wasn’t sure what else there was for him to do. The police hadn’t kicked in the door yet. They were giving Moses the time to ‘defuse’ him. But they were prepared to kill him so easily. Vanitas had felt trapped when he found out about the warrant. He didn’t know what else to do and he had obviously gotten in over his head. Moses helped Vanitas out, not once, but twice. He was trying for a third. Moses had to know what turning himself in would do. The only thing this would save him from was a bullet. He would still go to jail. For a very long time.
"Guys, there’s movement inside." Aqua announced from her perch.
The blinds had been pulled shut, so Aqua lost any visual she had inside. She could only see shapes, shadows against the blinds. They couldn’t even be sure that Vanitas was still in the hideout. He could have been using his shadowy tricks to make it look like someone was inside. But with the blinds closed, she was closed off from the inside of the apartment. Unless she made a blind shot, she couldn’t know what she was hitting until they got inside. If they got inside. She could accidentally hit Namine or Jane. Now they had a third civilian in there. She couldn’t risk it. She looked through the scope of her rifle, trying to get a better look.
A portal opened up in the front of the building. Aqua started. She held the rifle a little tighter, preparing to shoot if she had to, finger on the trigger, waiting for that spiky haired brat to show himself. She watched with her breath held. At first, there was nothing there. Then she could see a shape inside the portal, then two. Jane stumbled out of the portal. She held Namine’s hand, leading the other girl out. They looked tired, bleary and confused. The older woman held her hands up.
The police then became frantic as the two hostages were released. The demon makes this big deal of getting what he wanted but then he let the hostages go? The news reporters were trying to get a closer look with video running and cameras flashing. The few officers had to keep them separate. Shadow rushed out to Jane and Namine. He hurriedly guided them over to the ambulance that was waiting for them, or rather waiting in case something went wrong.
"Aqua, eyes on Vanitas?" Riku asked.
"No. I can’t see anything. I’ve lost visual." Aqua denied.
Sunshine smiled in relief when Shadow brought Jane and Namine to her. Namine looked near tears. Jane looked exhausted but happy, nevertheless. She happily moved over to the back of the car where Sunshine welcomed them with warm blankets and something warm to drink. Jane turned back to Namine and put a blanket on her. Then on herself. She wrapped an arm around Namine. Jane leaned close to the other girl, as if stepping away would mean she would disappear. Probably because Vanitas had separated them both for so long. Jane was just happy to see that Namine was okay.
Omar ran over to the girls. He was about to reach out for the both of them but Namine jolted. She started trembling and she pulled back. Jane frowned. She turned to Namine and gently hushed her. It seemed that Jane’s touch had a calming effect. Perhaps because they both went through the same ordeal. Namine was traumatized. What had happened with Namine, shook her to the core. She had thought she was safe in her little job with the BPD. Keep her head down, keep quiet, no one would ever hurt her again. But then Vanitas came along, popped her little bubble of safety and she lost it.
"Namine, it’s okay, it’s just my dad." Jane said gently.
"O-Omar?"
Omar took a slow step forward. He reached out softly to Namine before pulling her close. Jane joined the hug. Safe. Both girls were safe. Tears welled up in the trolls eyes. It shouldn’t have been this easy. Vanitas shouldn’t have just let them go. None of his demands had been met. The police hadn’t even tried to give him anything. He didn’t know why Vanitas had let the girls go, but they were there and safe.
"That’s right, sweetie. It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay."
"Omar, would it be okay if I heal them?" Sunshine asked gently.
Jane gave a weak laugh. Despite the fact they had been kidnapped by a demon and he had hit Namine, it wasn’t all that bad. They were cold, thirsty, and Jane could probably put away an extra-large pizza all on her own, even though food wasn’t probably the last thing on her mind. She knew that Namine was probably the one they wanted to look at. She had been hit by the demon after all. Hopefully, she hadn’t been hurt.
"Check Namine first?"
Sunshine nodded. She motioned for Namine to come a little closer so she could begin a healing. Namine looked worse for wear. She hadn’t slept. The deep bags under her eyes confirmed as much. Not to mention the red puffiness that gave away the fact that she had cried until she couldn’t muster another tear if her life depended on it. Her little white dress was dirty and dingy. She clung to the blanket that Jane had settled over her with trembling fingers. The dress she wore and the blanket did little to ward off the night chill. Her shaking alone made Sunshine feel cold.
However, out of all of the officers in the unit, Sunshine was the best equipped to gently coax Namine and Jane in for medical treatment. While she was in tactical gear, like all of the other officers, she was different. She didn’t exude the level of intimidation that Pitch did. She wasn’t standoffish like Shadow. It also helped that she wasn’t as visually startling as Riku’s new appearance could be to someone who didn’t expect it or was expecting his human shape if they knew him. Sunshine was gentle and safe enough to approach the girls (namely the blonde who looked like she was two wrong words away from a panic attack).
"Namine, my name is Sunshine. I work with Shadow." The officer said, "Would it be okay if I heal your cheek? It looks like it hurts."
Namine couldn’t meet Sunshine’s gaze. She tentatively stepped towards Sunshine; almost as if afraid someone would strike her for moving out of turn. Jane grimaced. She had wanted to tear Vanitas apart for hitting Namine. Jane had been scared, yes, but Namine had been beyond terrified. Her fear had been a palpable tension in the hideout. Vanitas had tried to stifle it with threats, but then he just stopped. Another odd occurrence. He gave Namine a wider birth when she cried.
"You are my Sunshine. My only Sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are grey." Sunshine sang.
Namine gave a slight jolt when hair was brought close to her face. Sunshine reached out, taking Namine’s hand in hers, trying to silently reassure the other that it was okay. Golden tendrils seeped through Sunshine’s hair, targeting the large bruise on Namine’s cheek. The little blonde flinched, but a gentle squeeze of her hand, kept her in place. Sunshine needed her still, as she tried to imagine Namine’s skin clear, less swollen and the bones beneath whole. The magic was bringing color back to Namine’s face, a good sign. When Sunshine stopped singing and the glow had died down to but a faint hue, she pulled the hair back.
"Miss LaRue."
Jane glanced over her father’s shoulder. He was still lingering close, as if he moved even a step away that the girls would be back in Vanitas’ clutches. A giant had stepped around the side of the vehicle, staying a few feet away. Namine eyed him, a look of confusion on her face. Her fatigue was starting to set in but the man, she knew him but couldn’t place him. Ralph clenched his fists. He didn’t want to scare Namine by getting too close. Jane seemed to understand.
"Dad, stay with Namine."
"Janie-"
"We won’t be far. We just have some questions."
Jane nodded. Omar reluctantly let her go, but was watching the entire time she walked over to the detective. But the troll got into the back of the ambulance with Namine. They had to keep her awake in case she was going into shock, but he also wanted warm her up. Her skin was freezing. She had not been dressed well for the day she was snatched. Jane was a little better off. The blanket was helping her a little more, but when she glanced over to see Namine curled between Sunshine and Omar, she felt a little warmer, safer, happier, she supposed. Because it was like that visual confirmed it was over.
"What happened in there?" Ralph asked.
"Honestly, I don’t know."
Ralph looked frustrated. It wasn’t a good enough answer. They both knew it. But she was being honest. The whole thing confused Jane. She had been there and she still don’t know why things happened the way they did. Vanitas just gave up. He lost the manic look in his eyes. Jane could have said that Vanitas looked scared and lost, like a little kid who had gotten in over his head and didn’t know what to do. Fake it until you make it. Maybe that was what he had been doing the whole time? Jane didn’t have time to think about it. She could already feel a headache forming just from trying to process it.
"He got a call and then that guy came in."
"Guy?" Ralph asked.
"They knew each other. At least they acted like they did." Jane recanted. "After the guy told him to turn himself in, he pulled out a knife. I thought he was going to kill us."
Jane scrubbed a hand over her face. Her heart still felt like ice from the sheer fear. Vanitas had pulled out a knife after the guy asked him to turn himself in. The way he had loomed over to them, the dagger getting dangerously close to skin, then the ropes were gone. He had even rubbed their wrists where the ropes had cut into the skin to get circulation going again. The gags were removed. He waited for them to catch their breath (namely Namine) before telling them to leave. The whole thing contradicted everything the demon wanted out of the exchange. Contradicting everything the demon himself was. Kind? Gentle? Those weren’t words that Jane would use to describe Vanitas but he had just changed at the flip of a switch or rather it all happened under the other guy’s supervision.
"He cut Namine’s ropes. Then mine. The portal opened and he just said, ‘get out’." She explained, "I didn’t stick around for him to change his mind. I grabbed Namine and we ran."
Pitch, Shadow and Riku headed into the building. The first floor was clear. It was when they got to the second floor that things got weird. Vanitas was just sitting in a chair by the window, a listless look on his face. Moses was sitting next to him. Vanitas barely reacted when the three officers surrounded him, guns drawn, waiting for him to fight back. He didn’t look up when they came into the room. His yellow eyes flickered to Moses. The young man nodded. This was what Moses wanted. He wanted Vanitas to fail, fall, but not die.
The demon Halfling was smiling. It both infuriated and confused Vanitas. It was a bad thing that he was getting arrested. He would have preferred death. Moses was making him live with the consequences of his actions. How could that be a good thing? He was caught. There would be no getting out of this. No lawyer would be able to argue him out what he had done. He was only caught because he gave himself up – because Moses asked him to. Without his bargaining chips, fighting off the police had gone entirely downhill.
"Hands where I can see them." Riku ordered.
Vanitas sighed. He raised his hands up but didn’t move from where he was. He lost once and for all. He held up his hands. Jail. Possibly a death sentence. The people in the city would want to see him fry for what he did. At this point, he had nothing left to live for. Nothing. All his plans. All his schemes were ruined. The police would find everything out now. There would be no hiding from what he did. The fight had been taken straight out of him, as fast as water puts out a fire.
"I have the right to remain silent." He said. "Anything I say can and will be used in a court of law. I have the right to an attorney. If I cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for me."
The officers exchanged looks. Pitch holstered his weapon and stepped forward. The demon ushered Moses away. The rabbit cop stepped up, in front of the ‘brave civilian’ and kept his gun trained at Vanitas. Pitch grabbed Vanitas’ wrist before twisting his arm behind his back. The cuff clicked as it was slapped onto his wrist. His second one was slapped on. Pitch hauled Vanitas to his feet. The whole thing felt off. Vanitas had lost all the fight to him. Considering that this was the demon that fought other demons and giants for fun, this was too easy.
"You know your rights. Good for you." Pitch sighed.